Railroad switch heating control

A control and detector apparatus for a rail road switch point where a switch rail is intended to contact a stock rail in a given plane, said apparatus comprising

• a detector mechanism secured to said stock rail at said point,
• said detector mechanism having a plunger assembly biased in the direction of said switch rail reciprocally secured in transverse horizontal alignment with said switch rail at said point and electrical contact means associated said plunger assembly for reporting contact or the lack of contact between said switchrail and said stockrail,
• adjustable means on said switch rail at said point for reciprocating said plunger assembly, causing said electrical contact means to report when said switchrail is in physical contact with said stockrail at said point,
• said detector mechanism having a closed housing containing said electrical contact means,
• said plunger assembly having a contact end adjacent said stock rail and a remote end,
• said electrical contact means comprising electrical contact members secured in said housing and a male contact element on said remote end for contacting said electrical contact members when said plunger assembly is reciprocated, and
• heating means associated with said switchpoint and adapted to disseminate heat in response to contact between said rails as detected by said detector mechanism.

A control and detector apparatus for a railroad switch point where rails consisting of a switch rail and a stock rail are intended to contact one another in a given plane, said apparatus comprising:

• a detector mechanism adjustably secured to one of said rails at said point,
• said detector mechanism having a connecting assembly directed toward said other rail to report whether there is substantial contact between said rails at said point,
• a housing secured on said one rail to which said detector mechanism is secured,
• electrical contact means in said housing adapted to receive the report of said detector mechanism,
• said connecting assembly connecting said detector mechanism and said contact means,
• said connecting assembly having a contact end adjacent said detector mechanism and a remote end,
• said electrical contact means comprising electrical contact members secured in said housing and a male contact element on said remote end for actuating said electrical contact members when said connecting assembly reparts, and
• heating means associated with said switch point and adapted to disseminate heat in response to contact between said rails as detected by said detector mechanism.

A control and detector apparatus for a railroad switch point where a switch rail is intended to contact a stock rail in a given plane, for ascertaining whether or not said switch point is open or closed and selectively delivering heat to said switchpoint, said control and detector apparatus comprising

• a detector mechanism secured to said stock rail at said point,
• said detector mechanism having a plunger assembly biased in the direction of said switch rail reciprocally secured in transverse alignment with said switch rail at said point,
• electrical contact means associated with said plunger assembly for reporting contact or the lack of contact between said switchrail and said stockrail, and
• adjustable means on said switch rail at said point for reciprocating said plunger assembly, causing said electrical contact means to report when said switchrail is in physical contact with said stockrail at said point,
• said detector mechanism having a housing attached to said stock rail containing said electrical contact means and plunger assembly,
• said plunger assembly having a contact end adjacent said stock rail and a remote end,
• said electrical contact means comprising electrical contact members secured in said housing and a male contact element on said remote end for contacting said electrical contact members when said plunger assembly is reciprocated, and
• an electrical circuit associated with said electrical contact members, for controlling the delivery of electrical current to a control means wired in said electrical circuit, said control means being capable of selectively delivering heat to said switch point.